Method for determining directional orientation of materials



Feb. 21, 1939. w j 2,147,942

METHOD FOR DETERMINING DIRECTIONAL ORIENTATION OF MATERIALS Filed April 50, 1957 Patented Feb. 21, 1939 UNITEDv STATES PATENT OFFICE HE'I'HOD FOR G MONA]:

ORIENTATION mm My invention relates more particularly to th directional orientation of core samples taken fromsubsurface strata in the course of drilling and contemplates suitable apparatus whereby the magnetic polarity of the removed core may be utilized to orient the core with reference to direction and thereby determine the dip and strike of the earth's substrata or beds beneath the ground surface; the invention being especially adapted for use in oil or mineral drilling.

Certain parts of formations recovered with the core barrelinthecourse oi'drillingoilwellsexhibit magnetic polarity. It has long been known that the 'earths crust exhibits magnetic effects induced by the earth's magnetic field, the eiieets arising from the fact that most rocks or strata contain disseminated magnetic minerals which v practice. it has been found that number 00 piano are magnetized by the earths magnetic fleld.

My improved method consists in determining the directional orientation of magnetic or diamagnetic materials as, for example, a core sample taken from subsurface strata in the course of drilling for oil or for minerals, by causing the sample to orient itself under the influence of an electro-niagnetic field.

Core samples taken from subsurface rocks or strata, if of proper nature, are known to have residual magnetism and, therefore, magnetic polarity which may be determined by my improved method and apparatus designed to practice the method as hereinafter described.

'ing turn or change in the My improved method, more specifically stated, consists essentially in suspending the .core or sample of material to be examined in such manner as to beas free as possible to turn under the eflect of an electromagnetic field, in conjunction with method comprises a suitably suspendedcore or sample holder, a mirror or reflecting element, a suitable source of light for providing a directional light beam, and one or two electro-magnets. An exempliflcation of the apparatus is illustrated in the drawing and consists of a suitable cord II a; suspended from the ceiling of the room or from overhead structure of an enclosure, with the lower end terminating in or provided with the diverging cords ll wherebya suitable platform I! is suspended from the cord II. The platform I! is of .wood, cardboard, or some other non-magnetic material and the cords U are secured to the platform at or near the perimeter thereof.

: Itis essential, of course, that this suspension mechanism be as light in weight as possible and that the elements constituting this he s of non-magnetic material, at least sofar as the core or sample holding end of the m is concerned; and the cord ll should be of material oflering minimum resistance to torsion in order that it, with the core holding platform 12, may readily respond to the magnetic action of the attendant electro-magnets indicated at l3, II. In

wire used for the upper s cord ll gives very satisfactory results; while the lower cords II are to be of non-magnetic material. The coresample, indicated at II, should placed on the platform I! with its original top and bottom upwardly and downwardly, respective I Ti ie suspen' ding element II at a suitable point is provided with a reflecting element or mirror It arranged parallel with the element II and also with a side wall indicatedat II. Either one or two electro-magnets may be employed; in the exempliflcaticn two electro-magnets are shown at It and ii; and these electromagnets are placed so that one pole face is in close proximity, say approximately one-half or three quarters of an inch of the suspended c ore sample I. Where two electro-magnets are used as shown they are placed on opposite sides of the suspended core holding platform l2, in line with.

each other and with the respective pole faces preferably'spaced from the core sample as previously stated; and the electro-magnets are so arranged and connected that the north pole of one is facing the south pole of the other with the platform therebetween. M

The eleetro-magnets are of suchelectrlcal an magnetic constants as tobe capable, when energized,"of exerting sumcient electroto turn a properly placed and polarised sample. These electro-magnets may conveniently be made of two hundred and eighty turns of number eighteen insulated copper wire wound on an iron bar seven inches long by one and one quarter inches in diameter.

Secured in some suitable manner between the mirror I and wall I1 is a light sourcewenerally indicated at ll, adapted to project a beam of light onto the mirror It, whereby it is reflected onto the side wall; it being understood that mirror It is attached to cord ll so as to turn with the sample'or core holder H, II, with the result that the position of the reflection on thewall or other vertically disposed surface will correspondingly vary.

For the sake of convenience and to facilitate operation, I show the electro-magnets mounted on a platform or support consisting preferably of two superposed discs I, ll, of wood or other non-magnetic material supported on a suitable post as at II, with the upper end reduced and disposed through the lower disc I. and pivotally supporting disc I! so that the latter may be revolved; the axis of rotation of disc ll being disposed directly in vertical alignment with the center of the suspension means and of the sample core.

The lower disc II, which may be stationarily mounted, is shown of slightly larger diameter than upper disc II; and the exposed peripheral portion of the lower disc it may be provided with graduations or degrees as shown at 22 in Figure 1; while the upper disc it may be provided with a pointer as at 28, see Figure 1 Current for energizing the electro-magnet or electro-magnets II, II may be from any suitable source as for example a battery indicated at 24 and capable of giving say from six to ten volts of direct current. The battery is shown provided with flexible leads 2', 2! connected with the coils of electro-magnet II; the leads 2! being provided with a suitable switch indicated at whereby -switch as at 28 for controlling current flow to electro-magnet l4. 7

In operation, the core sample is properly placed on the holder I! in the manner hereinbefore mentioned and the holder brought to rest or substantially so. The light is then turned on so the beam of light strikes the mirror or reflector II and the position of the reflection of this light on the wall or vertical surface I! is then noted. By reason of the length of the suspending element ll, there may be slight rotary oscillation of the core sample and holder and hence the notation must represent the extremes or endpoints of such rotary oscillation. Current for the coils of the electro-magnets is then turned on by closing the switch or switches; and if there isa change in the position of the reflection or of the end-points of the reflection on the wall or vertical member II, this is noted.

of a circle.

The electro-magnet or magnets are then deenergized by turning oi! the current by opening the switches and the position ofthe electro-magnet or magnets (when two are employed) is then changed with respect to the core sample. This may be accomplished by rotating the upper magnet holding disc I! on the lower disc II; the rotation being merely through a portion or are The current is again turned on and the new position of the reflection, or of the arc of the reflection, on the wall I! is noted. The deflections arising during this procedure result from the turning of the core sample under the influence of the electro-magnetic fleld-the north and south poles of the electro-magnets adjacent to the core sample, or course, attracting the opposite poles and repelling the like poles of the coresample.

If, for example, the deflection of the reflection or of the end points of the arc of the reflection is to the operator's left on the flrst trial and to the operator's right on the second trial, then one of the poles of the sample lies between the positions of trial. This procedure is continued until such position of the electro-magnets is found where the electro-magnetic fleld causes no turning of the core sample. In this position the south pole of one electro-magnet directly faces the north pole of the core and the north pole of the other electro-magnet directly faces the south pole of the core when two electro-miagnets are used, or when only one electro-magnet is used the pole. (north or south) which faces the core will face the opposite pole (south or north) of the core. I

A line is now drawn on the, sample indicatina its magnetic north-south orientation. From the known regional declination of the earth's magnetic fleld may be found the true north-south direction in the sample. The dip andstrike may then be found by established means, and their orientation in terms of direction given. The attitude of the material from which the sample was taken (for instance the dip and strike of rocks or strata which have been cored in drilling) is then determined.-

In the above description it has been assumed that the drill hole from which a core sample was taken is vertical. In some cases the course of the hole deviates somewhat from vertical. When, as is sometimes done, surveys of the course of the hole are made, adjustment of the dip and strike orientation in terms of the deviation of the hole from vertical can be made. In general such adjustments are not necessary, and orientations made by my ,improved method and apparatus will'usually be accurate for all practical purposes unless the deviation is considerable.

with my method and apparatus herein described, the dip and strike of the bedding in the core samples may be determined: the attitude (dip and strike) of the cored rocks or strata may be determined; and the directional orientation of materials which retain residually the eflects of former position in reference to the earth's magnetic fleld also may be determined.

The drawing exemplifies an embodiment of my invention and adapted for the method as deflned in the specification and appended claims, but refinements are possible without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention;

What I claim is:

1. The herein described method-which consists in suspending a core sample from above by a single yielding element with its original top and bottom disposed upwardly and downwardly and so it is free to rotate horizontally, subjecting the suspended core to the magnetic influence of energized magnetic means arranged adjacent the core so as to induce horizontal rotation thereof, noting the maximum point of rotary movement, deenergizing the magnetic means, arcuatelyrepositioning the deenergized magnetic means relative to the sample and again energizing the magnetic means to induce rotation of the suspended core sample, noting the maximum point and direction of rotational movement relative to said flrst mentioned maximum point and the degree of deflection, again deenergizing the magnetic means and moving the latter horizontally through an are about said suspended core sample to a point intermediate of the previously noted maximum points of rotary movements of the core sample where one of the poles of the magnetic means directly faces the opposite pole of the core sample.

' 2. The herein described method of determining the directional orientation 0! cored rocks or strata which consists in suspending the core by means of a 'yieldable element with its original top and bottom arranged upwardly and downwardly and the core tree to rotate horizontally through the influence of a controllable magnetic field, noting the extreme point of rotational deflection of the core induced by said magnetic field, subjecting the core to the influence of a magnetic field disposed in a horizontalplane a predetermined distance from the first mentioned field, noting the maximum point of rotational deflection of the core induced by the second mentioned magnetic field and then moving the magnetic field to a point intermediate of the extremes of the two noted deflections where no further rotational deflection occurs.

RANDALL WRIGHT. 

